CHARLOTTE PIKE
Charlotte (@charlottepikefood) is a food and drink expert, food writer and professionally trained chef. From her home in the countryside Charlotte has written several award winning cookbooks plus runs a food and drink consultancy business The Taste Testers which helps producers develop and refine their products. In addition, Charlotte runs a pop-up cookery school, Field & Fork School, plus can be found talking about all things food on radio, podcasts and on her website, where she also posts a range of delicious recipes. Today she's talking us through the best dinner party tips and her favourite way to cook.
Can you remember when you fell in love with cooking?
When I was a little girl, I have loved it all of my life.
What’s your favourite thing about your job?
I just love that every day I am excited to get up and do what I do, I love people I meet, I love projects I work on, I love all of the delicious food that comes out of it. I love working in an interesting world where you never know what is going to happen next.
When I was a little girl, I have loved it all of my life.
What’s your favourite thing about your job?
I just love that every day I am excited to get up and do what I do, I love people I meet, I love projects I work on, I love all of the delicious food that comes out of it. I love working in an interesting world where you never know what is going to happen next.
What’s the perfect dinner party dish?
I adore dinner parties, it’s something I do a lot of - I like to get as many people together as possible. The thing is, when you get people together and you are going to be hostess, you need to make something straightforward that enables you to have a fun evening too. For example, I like all-in-one dishes that you can get together in advance, shove it in the oven or AGA and take it out and serve. If I was simply cooking for people, I would prepare something elaborate, but if not and I was eating too, I would keep it simple, making something delicious and get some wonderful drinks in to start the evening.
I adore dinner parties, it’s something I do a lot of - I like to get as many people together as possible. The thing is, when you get people together and you are going to be hostess, you need to make something straightforward that enables you to have a fun evening too. For example, I like all-in-one dishes that you can get together in advance, shove it in the oven or AGA and take it out and serve. If I was simply cooking for people, I would prepare something elaborate, but if not and I was eating too, I would keep it simple, making something delicious and get some wonderful drinks in to start the evening.
When does sweater season start for you?
At the earliest possible opportunity, I love going to see my family in Scotland in the summer – and I pack my knitwear then. I wear pieces all year round.
How would you style your AGB Teddy for the daytime and nighttime?
I wear trousers or dresses a lot of the time, so I would wear the teddy sweater with some nice trousers or possibly some sort of heels. If I were at home and during the day, I'd probably wear it over a dress with boots.
I wear trousers or dresses a lot of the time, so I would wear the teddy sweater with some nice trousers or possibly some sort of heels. If I were at home and during the day, I'd probably wear it over a dress with boots.
How would you style your AGB Teddy for the daytime and nighttime?
I wear trousers or dresses a lot of the time, so I would wear the teddy sweater with some nice trousers or possibly some sort of heels. If I were at home and during the day, I'd probably wear it over a dress with boots.
What’s your dinner party secret?
I have quite a big repertoire of recipes and a couple of thousand cookbooks. I always choose a particularly popular range of recipes, and increasingly make a range of complimentary dishes to share, which is more interesting and relaxed. It is really nice when you can surprise people with a meal that’s really memorable.
I wear trousers or dresses a lot of the time, so I would wear the teddy sweater with some nice trousers or possibly some sort of heels. If I were at home and during the day, I'd probably wear it over a dress with boots.
What’s your dinner party secret?
I have quite a big repertoire of recipes and a couple of thousand cookbooks. I always choose a particularly popular range of recipes, and increasingly make a range of complimentary dishes to share, which is more interesting and relaxed. It is really nice when you can surprise people with a meal that’s really memorable.
When I’m relaxing my style is…
I live in the country so I have a much more relaxed style than I used to. I have lived in London, Paris and Madrid and my look was more polished then. I love to spend as much time outdoors as possible, whether if that is in my garden or getting out and about. I wear a lot of jeans and jumper combos everyday at home.
The Teddy Sweater is going to fit beautifully into my repertoire. Comfy, easy, good quality, you don’t need to much in my view!
I live in the country so I have a much more relaxed style than I used to. I have lived in London, Paris and Madrid and my look was more polished then. I love to spend as much time outdoors as possible, whether if that is in my garden or getting out and about. I wear a lot of jeans and jumper combos everyday at home.
The Teddy Sweater is going to fit beautifully into my repertoire. Comfy, easy, good quality, you don’t need to much in my view!
Describe the perfect winter, weekday dinner.
I cook from scratch every day, because I think you get the best flavour and most nutrition and I just love it. On weekdays, I make a lot of veggie dishes, using veg from my garden. I have a rule most of the time, I try to cook something different every night of the week that I have never tried before. Whether that is a new curry, or something from a new cook book I haven’t tried. I rely on one pan dishes, such as a large Le Creuset, to pop in the oven or AGA – that works really well for me. I am also always basing my meals around seasonal veg.
I cook from scratch every day, because I think you get the best flavour and most nutrition and I just love it. On weekdays, I make a lot of veggie dishes, using veg from my garden. I have a rule most of the time, I try to cook something different every night of the week that I have never tried before. Whether that is a new curry, or something from a new cook book I haven’t tried. I rely on one pan dishes, such as a large Le Creuset, to pop in the oven or AGA – that works really well for me. I am also always basing my meals around seasonal veg.